Svāhā! On the Land : Reflections by Mel Hart
As summer excitement percolates in the city and we anticipate the arrival of the World Cup, Nova Dance invites audiences to gather on the land in a shared offering of breath, rhythm, memory, and joy. Svāhā! On the Land returns June 26–27, 2026 to David Crombie Park, a free performance where dance serves as ritual and reunion.
Mel Hart:
Svāhā! On the Land is an invitation to remember a connection like no other – dance – moving together releases the true beauty of our spirits! Beneath open skies and summer light, nine extraordinary dancers trained in Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Contemporary, Bollywood, Latin, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Filipino cultural dance will amplify the living and pulsing landscape of Toronto. Set to Nova Bhattacharya’s electrifying choreography and a pulsating score by Ed Hanley, audiences are carried through layers of movement and sound encouraged to imagine and feel beyond their day-to-day lives.
These performances hold special meaning as Bharatnatyam students from Citadel Dance Program and Abhinayakshetra Fine Arts Canada will join the performance. A new generation of artists learn to dance boldly into the future, and our circle of community expands.
I'm thrilled to be leading this project and wearing many hats with fabulous hairstyles.
The Community Celebration Support Fund call was one of the first grants I worked on before I even had a title of Artistic Producer, and now I get to help produce, rehearsal direct, dance in, and execute a social media campaign! (Confetti explosion here!)
It’s an interesting position to be in, adapting another’s vision, building a schedule based on several parameters, directing rehearsals of work you didn’t create, and ensuring everyone is looked after but also considering your own needs. Dancers can really do it all!
But what I choose to hold on to are the special moments that remind me of my why. Why do I choose this path for my life? First, I get to reunite with dancers who are original Svāhā! castmates who are incredible dancers and the nicest humans you could meet! Then I have the trust of the Artistic Director and choreographer to plan the rehearsals and play with the structure of choreography. Then we get to combine all these amazing dancers with the next generation of aspiring artists in one of the most beautifully diverse communities in the city! It’s also so inspiring to dance with artists who have become so seasoned in their craft, dance a repertoire adding deeply caring and vigorous spirit, bringing Svāhā! On the Land to life in a completely new way.
“On the land, dance reminds us of our place within the circle of life, our responsibility to care for the earth and for each other.”
We have only had two rehearsals, and I’m already in awe of how much we accomplished. This process feels like coming home: finding rhythm again, creating new memories, reminiscing on old ones – Toronto and Vancouver on stage, then bringing the offering to the land at the same park and in Newfoundland where the audience joined us in breathing new life into a beloved communal experience. I am eager to see how far we take this multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-versatile work that really shows what true diversity and unity is in the most heartfelt way.
Each performance is followed by an open community dance celebration where everyone is invited to stay, move, and gather in joy. We will dance the many rhythms of our city, together, hearts beating as one and hope you will join in too!
On the land, dance reminds us of our place within the circle of life, our responsibility to care for the earth and for each other. Svāhā!
Svāhā! On the Land is presented in partnership with Jamii's Joy in the Park and supported by the City of Toronto’s Community Celebration Support Fund. Event partners include Abhinayakshetra Fine Arts Canada and Citadel + Compagnie.